And timed to coincide with the revival was the remodeling of the home of Janasko Insurance at 562 Broadway, to return the look of the building to its late 1800s roots.
An email from the firm (they’ve been my insurance company for years) provided a short history of the building, and noted how the remodeling was a pet project of owner and president Jim Janasko.
"With all the ups/downs and comings/goings in downtown Lorain, Janasko Insurance Agency has remained here over 60 years! We first started in the Broadway Building (currently the Ariel Broadway Hotel) and moved to our current building in 1975. Jim's dad converted a Thom McAn shoe store into the office with the Spanish-style front.
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| A 2007 view showing the Spanish-style storefront |
"The original building was built for the Citizen's Savings Bank in 1892. If you look at the top of the north side of the building you can still see the wording painted on the building.
"Jim had a dream to return the look of the building back to its original 1890's design. This all came together with the new streetscape in downtown Lorain.”
And here’s the finished result.
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There are a few archival images of the building as it looked originally. This one (below) is courtesy of Janasko Insurance.
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| Citizens Bank Building circa 1895 |
And this one (below) appeared in the book, “CENTURY: 100 Years of Lorain and Lorain Business History.”
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| Circa 1905 |
And from the same book, here’s a view from the other direction showing the CITIZEN lettering on the building.
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| Circa 1917 |